Comments on: Whitefish City Manager Call Budget “Dire Situation”
By fishrider on 02-05-10
adjust my expectations of city services? my property tax payments haven’t diminished, on the contrary they have risen, but I should be expecting even worse customer service? Really. I didn’t have anything to do with that lawsuit or the city’s poor budget balancing practices but I guess we’ll just pass it on to the citizens of town through more crappy city service. Oh, but first let’s spend a couple million on 100 ft of lakefront. Am I taking crazy pills?
By Firebeam on 02-05-10
The chickens are coming home to roost. Cities nationwide have been riding a wave of growth that suddenly has crashed to an abrupt end. Whitfish isn’t alone—-local government budget practices for years have been dependant on continued growth and a consistent stream of fees and new taxes from development. It, like the banking industry was a house of cards. Well, it’s time cities started looking at a new model of operation and budgeting. Whatever that new model looks like—-it’s blurry at this point I think—-you can bet that the citizens are not going to stand for the same ol’ tax and spend. New efficiencies are absolutely incumbent upon municipal governments. A hierachy of priorities will be essential. Fund the highest priorities first and as needs/programs/wants fall further down the priority list, the less likely they are to be funded in a fixed revenue scenario. Hence, as unpopular as it will be, nice-to-haves like playground equipment, park land and air-conditioned office space will need to take a backseat to things like police cars and fire trucks and sewer pipes that work well when needed. Cities cannot buy new copiers every 2 years for every office when they can be expected to last 5 years. They need to have specific account to replace the roof every 25 years and fund that account 1/25th plus inflation, every year before they even consider providing a vehicle for the mayor. If I were in a leadership position at a city, I’d be working on that priority list right now and figuring quickly what we’re going to have to get along without.
By Bill on 02-07-10
Trivial pursuit…In 2006 when discussing whether to allow the Walton’s to build on their platted and taxed lakefront lot or go to court what famous councilor said the city should go to court because “John Phelps is the Joe DiMaggio of attorneys”
By fishrider on 02-07-10
i give. who?
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